Many are smelling a rat, perhaps where none exists, after it emerged that an explosion has hit a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community in Gonna local government area of Rivers state.
The pipeline is a federal transport line that supplies oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in Rivers State.
Unconfirmed reports said the incident occurred late on Monday night near the Bodo-Bonny Road under construction, amid fears that the ongoing political imbroglio between forces loyal to immediate past Governor and sitting Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike; and Governor Siminalayi Fubara may have moved to the next phase.
No official statement has been issued whether it is a case of sabotage or due to technical problems.
Recall that there have been threats on oil installations in the state as a result of the political crisis in the state, culminating in 27 members of the State House of Assembly accusing the governor of gross misconduct.
Meanwhile, the government has downplayed the impeachment move against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, insisting that there is no formal communication from the state House of Assembly regarding allegations of gross misconduct.
The assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule and dominated by 27 pro-Wike lawmakers, issued a notice dated March 14, outlining allegations against Fubara and Odu.
The letter, signed by 26 lawmakers, accused the governor of reckless expenditure, obstructing the assembly, and making appointments without legislative approval, among other claims.
On Monday, Speaker Amaewhule announced the formal transmission of the notice to the governor and his deputy, citing Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates that impeachment allegations be signed by at least one-third of house members.
He also directed Fubara and Odu to respond to the allegations within the stipulated period of 14 days.
However, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Barrister Joseph Johnson, dismissed the move, stating that the letter was not addressed to the governor.
Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Monday, he criticised the assembly for obstructing Fubara’s efforts to implement the Supreme Court’s recent judgement on the state’s prolonged political crisis.
Johnson added that the assembly’s actions were worsening the hardship faced by civil servants and pensioners due to the seized state allocation.
He noted that Fubara had demonstrated his commitment to obeying the court’s decision by directing local government chairmen to hand over to their administrative heads.
The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had also scheduled fresh elections for August 9, 2025, in compliance with the ruling.
This is the second impeachment attempt against the governor. The first attempt to impeach Governor Fubara occurred on October 30, 2023.
24 members of the assembly had initiated impeachment proceedings against the governor, leading to significant unrest, including the burning of sections of the assembly complex and the eventual demolition of the complex.
Governor Fubara claimed he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt involving police gunfire during these events.
● Additional report by Daily Trust.
